Food cover

ABSTRACT

A food cover ( 10 ) suitable for locating on a plate upon which a meal has been served, permitting a similar such plate to be stacked thereon. The cover ( 10 ) has on an upper surface a plate contact part ( 26 ) in the form of a disc of rubber with a textured upper surface ( 30 ). The contact part ( 26 ) significantly reduces the risk of a plate resting thereon from slipping relative to the cover ( 10 ).

This invention concerns food covers, and particularly but not exclusively food covers locatable on a plate to protect food thereon and to permit other such plates to be stacked thereon.

Food covers are often used in catering to protect meals once served on a plate. Such covers are particularly used when catering for large numbers where meals are served on plates and then stored, in a warm environment when appropriate, prior to serving.

Problems may be encountered with existing food covers. These problems can include a lack of durability of the covers. If metal covers are used a not significant amount of noise can be caused by the covers contacting each other, other items or surfaces. Existing food covers can tend to slip relative to each other, or to plates stacked thereon. This can be a particular problem with plates such as porcelain plates which tend to be stacked by their feet rather than by their rims.

According to the present invention there is provided a food cover, the cover including an engagement formation engageable with a plate or other item of ware, a body part configured to extend upwardly in use from the engagement formation to define an area above the plate or other item in which food can be located, with at least part of an upper surface of the body part having increased friction relative to the remainder of the cover, whereby to reduce the likelihood of a further plate located on top of the cover slipping relative thereto.

A plate contact part may be provided on top of the body part, which plate contact part may be of a different material relative to the remainder of the cover.

The plate contact part may be made of a flexible material which may be rubber or silicone. The flexible material may be food safe, and heat resistant at temperatures at which hot food is stored at.

The plate contact part may be bonded to the top of the upper surface of the body part, and may be bonded by an adhesive which is heat resistant at temperatures at which hot food is stored at, and which adhesive may also be detergent proof.

The upper surface of the contact part, may be textured to increase friction. An upstanding rim may be provided around the perimeter of the contact part.

An upstanding rim may be provided around the perimeter of the upper surface of the body part.

The cover aside from the plate contact part, may be made of metal and may be made of stainless steel. Alternatively the cover may be made of a plastics material.

An opening may be provided through the body part to permit steam or other vapours to pass therethrough.

In one embodiment a surface of the engagement formation may have a rim contact part engageable with the rim of a plate or other item of ware. The rim contact part may be provided on an in use generally downward facing part of the engagement formation. The rim contact part may be as outlined in any of the above paragraphs relating to the plate contact part.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view from above of a first food cover according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of the cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a similar view to FIG. 3 of a second cover according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a similar view to FIG. 3 but of a third cover according to the invention.

FIGS. 1-3 show a first food cover 10 suitable for locating on a plate upon which a meal has been served, and permitting a similar such plate to be stacked thereon. The cover 10 is circular in plan view and includes an outer downwardly diverging rim 12 engageable on the outside of a plate. A horizontal flange 14 extends inwardly from the rim 12. A body part 16 extends inwardly from the flange 14. The body part 16 includes gently inwardly tapering upstanding side walls 18 with a lid part 20 extending between the side walls 18. The lid part 20 extends gently downwardly from the connection to the side walls 18, and a central opening 22 with a rim 24 around its edge is provided through the lid part 20.

A plate contact part 26 is bonded on top of the lid part 20. The contact part 26 comprises a disc of rubber with a central opening 28 corresponding to the lid part opening 22. The contact part 26 has a textured upper surface 30 in the form of a plurality of concentric upstanding ribs.

The contact part 26 is formed of a rubber which is heat resistant at temperatures to which food can be heated, and is bonded to the lid 20 by an adhesive which is similarly heat resistant. The adhesive is also detergent resistant. The food cover 10 except the contact part 26 is formed of stainless steel.

In use, once a meal has been served on a plate, the cover 10 can be located on the plate to provide protection for the meal, and further plates can be stacked on the cover 10, each with a respective cover 10. The contact part 26 significantly reduces the prospect of a plate slipping relative to an underlying cover 10. Furthermore, the contact part 26 acts to deaden sound and reduce noise when stacking and handling plates with such covers on.

FIG. 4 shows a further food cover 32 which is similar to the cover 10 except as follows. In this instance a rim contact part 34 is provided on the underside of the flange 14. The rim contact part 34 may be made of a similar rubber to the contact part 26. This provides the further advantages of deadening sound relative to the noise of a cover being located on a plate. This also decreases the chance of a food cover 32 slipping relative to a plate on which it is located.

FIG. 5 shows a still further cover 40 which is similar to the cover 10 except as follows. With the cover 40 an upstanding rim 42 is provided around the upper perimeter of the lid part 44. A silicone plate contact part 46 is bonded on top of the lid part 44. The plate contact part 46 overlies the rim 42 to provide a silicone rim 48.

There are thus described food covers which provide significant advantages. The covers are though of relatively straightforward construction, and can thus be inexpensively manufactured for long term maintenance free in use.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the covers and/or contact parts may be made of different materials. As an example the main part of the cover may be made of a plastics material. The cover may also be a different shape. The contact part may be provided on only a part of the cover lid.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon. 

1. A food cover, the cover including an engagement formation engageable with a plate or other item of ware, a body part configured to extend upwardly in use from the engagement formation to define an area above the plate or other item in which food can be located, with at least part of an upper surface of the body part having increased friction relative to the remainder of the cover, whereby to reduce the likelihood of a further plate located on top of the cover slipping relative thereto.
 2. A food cover according to claim 1, wherein a plate contact part is provided on top of the body part.
 3. A food cover according to claim 2, wherein the plate contact part is of a different material relative to the remainder of the cover.
 4. A food cover according to claim 3, wherein the plate contact part is made of a flexible material.
 5. A food cover according to claim 4, wherein the plate contact part is made of rubber.
 6. A food cover according to claim 4, wherein the plate contact part is made of silicone.
 7. A food cover according to claim 4, wherein the flexible material is food safe, and heat resistant at temperatures at which hot food is stored at.
 8. A food cover according to claim 2, wherein the plate contact part is bonded to the top of the upper surface of the body part.
 9. A food cover according to claim 8, wherein the plate contact part is bonded by an adhesive which is heat resistant at temperatures at which hot food is stored at.
 10. A food cover according to claim 9, wherein the adhesive is detergent proof.
 11. A food cover according to claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the plate contact part, is textured to increase friction.
 12. A food cover according to claim 2, wherein an upstanding rim is provided around the perimeter of the contact part.
 13. A food cover according to claim 1, wherein an upstanding rim is provided around the perimeter of the upper surface of the body part.
 14. A food cover according to claim 2, wherein the cover aside from the plate contact part, is made of metal.
 15. A food cover according to claim 14, wherein the cover aside from the plate contact part, is made of stainless steel.
 16. A food cover according to claim 1, wherein the cover is made of a plastics material.
 17. A food cover according to claim 1, wherein an opening is provided through the body part to permit steam or other vapours to pass therethrough.
 18. A food cover according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the engagement formation may have a rim contact part engageable with the rim of a plate or other item of ware.
 19. A food cover according to claim 18, wherein the rim contact part is provided on an in use generally downward facing part of the engagement formation.
 20. A food cover according to claim 18, wherein the rim contact part is made of a flexible material. 